24 Days to Reflect on God's Heart for Redemptionনমুনা

The theme of redemption in the New Testament

E. F. Harrison said, “No word in Christian vocabulary deserves to be held more precious than Redeemer, for even more than Savior it reminds the child of God that his salvation has been purchased at a great and personal cost, for the Lord has given himself for our sins in order to deliver us from them.”

As a child, I understood Jesus as my savior, but as an adult, I have come to understand him more deeply as my redeemer. Theologian Otto Weber asserts that God’s self-disclosure is both reconciliation and redemption through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. The concept of redemption is found throughout the New Testament.

The two Greek words used most often for redemption in the New Testament are exagorazo and lutrosis. Exagorazo, meaning to buy, buy out, especially when purchasing a slave with a view to his freedom, is used in Galatians, Ephesians, Colossians, and Revelation. Lutrosis, meaning to release on receipt of ransom; by paying a ransom, is used in Luke, Romans, Ephesians, Colossians, 1 Corinthians, Titus, 1 Peter, and Hebrews.

The root word for exagorazo is agora, meaning “market, to buy.” This was used in the New Testament to indicate commercial life. In the New Testament, exagorazo is used for the redeeming and liberating act of Christ. This word also means an intensive buying, which exhausts the possibilities available. The New Testament use of this word for the work of Christ on the cross denotes a divine transaction that exhausts all means possible to gain our freedom through the sacrifice of Jesus for us.

The root word for lutrosis is luo, meaning “to loose,” and is used for the freeing of slaves. The noun form of this word translates as “ransom” and also carries the meaning of “money paid to ransom prisoners of war.” The verses in Matthew 20:28 and Mark 10:45 both speak of the idea that Jesus came to give his life as a ransom for many. The understanding is that Jesus’ death as a ransom for us is a basic element in the Church’s confession that cannot be surrendered. The New Testament carries this central idea when referring to the concept of redemption.

Reflection question:

• How is the theme of redemption central to the Christian faith?